The Mountaineer Online

511th MP Company cases colors for deployment to Afghanistan

First Sgt. Joel Zecca, left, 511th Military Police Company senior enlisted adviser, and Capt. Benjamin Bridon, 511th MP commander, case the company’s guidon during a deployment ceremony Sept. 1 at Monti Physical Fitness Center. The company has spent the last couple of months training and preparing for deployment to Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Jared Crain.

The unit began preparing for the deployment by ensuring every Soldier was trained where they then moved up to squad-level training and certification. Training included working with 10th Combat Aviation Brigade to load aircraft, as well as lanes certification.

Once the unit was ready, Soldiers packed up all their gear and attended a two-week training exercise ran by 91st Military Battalion Headquarters, where the company tested on every possible scenario they may encounter while deployed, to include complex and dynamic attacks, several shoot / don’t shoot scenarios and crowd control training.

“We got some of the best and brightest that America has to offer in this company and best-trained warrior police the Army has to offer,” Zecca added.

Spc. Josue Gomez, a military policeman who deployed with the company on its last tour, said he is ready to deploy and hopes to build a good relationship with the Afghan police.

“We are a tight group that works well together, and I know that we will do a good job and hope to bring everyone back home,” Gomez said.

“The bottom line is we are 100-percent ready. We are trained and ready to accomplish the mission,” Zecca said.

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